Astrosaurs 2 by Steve Cole Page A

races came to their aid,” the professor went on. “As you know, they joined together andformed the Dinosaur Space Service, to protect all plant-eaters. In the end they kicked the T. rexes off Platus. But the little planet had been almost ruined by war.”
    The hologram switched off above Sog’s head. “The plateosaurus race never recovered from the tragedy. Today, only a tiny handful survive.” He shuffled closer to the black bundle beside him. “But now I bring new hope!”
    He clamped his jaws down on the blanket and whipped it away. Beneath it was a pile of eight or nine large white eggs. The audience burst out in gasps and hoots. Flying reptiles flapped nearer with theirTV cameras to get a closer look.

    â€œPlateosaurus eggs!” cried the little professor. “Discovered in a wrecked spaceship far out in the Jurassic Quadrant. That ship was a victim of the cosmic storm. It has drifted through space for thousands of years. But the eggs survived – frozen in space!”
    The great hall filled with excited mutterings.
    Professor Sog held up his feeble arms for quiet. “As you know, when it comes to hatching I am something of an expert . . .”

    â€œEggs-
pert, more like!” Teggs chuckled.
    â€œI was asked to study these old, old eggs,” said Sog proudly. “And now that the eggs have thawed out, I believethat they will soon hatch! The plateosaurus race
will
live on!”
    The audience cheered, and stamped their feet so hard that the floor shook.
    â€œThat’s where we come in!” cried Teggs, rising to his feet. He flexed his long, bony tail, and knocked two elderly triceratops off their stools. “Oops!”
    Sog frowned at the commotion. “Is that Captain Teggs?”
    â€œSpeaking!” he called cheerily, as Gipsy helped up the doddery dinosaurs.
    â€œHello, everyone. It’s my mission to take the professor, the eggs, and two plateosaurus guardians to a far-off world called Platus Two. A place where their race can make a fresh start!”
    â€œIs that a fact?!“
    Suddenly, the enormous wooden doors at the front of the hall were kicked open. The great hall rang with gasps of shock from the startled crowd.

    Teggs narrowed his eyes. In the doorway stood a dozen small, ugly creatures. Their short, turtle-like heads bobbed about on scrawny necks.
    One of the creatures darted towards the stage. “A fresh start for these lovely little hatchlings?” He shoved Professor Sog aside. “I don’t think so! Not now the oviraptors are here!”
    â€œOviraptors?” frowned Teggs.
    â€œUh-oh!” Gipsy turned to Teggs in alarm. “They’re nest-raiders! Egg-stealers!”
    â€œWe’ve got to stop them!” yelled Tegg: But he was blocked in on all sides by shocked old dinosaurs.

    â€œI am Prince Goopo, and these are mg royal brothers!” The oviraptor snatched up a plateosaurus egg and caressed it with his long, bony fingers. “Eggs are our favourite food, and eggs as rare as
these
will make a meal fit for a king –
and
his princes!” He threw back his head and laughed. “Forget your mission, Captain Teggs. The only place these eggs are going is
into our bellies!”

Chapter Two

THE EGG-SNATCHERS
    â€œGrub’s up, lads!” yelled Prince Goopo.
    The oviraptors raced into the learning hall. They moved like lightning. In a second they had stolen every last egg. Then they charged back out through the double doors.

    â€œNo!” yelled Teggs. “Get out of my way! They mustn’t take the eggs!” He started pushing his way through the dinosaur audience. “You, near the front – stop them!”
    But no one took any notice. They were rooted to the ground with shock at what they had just seen.
    â€œCaptain, wait!” called Gipsy.
    â€œCatch me up, Gipsy!” Teggs had made it through the crowd, and now he was tearing down the gangway after the